[miamixink3]

I have an addiction to adderall.
It helps me control my weight, so I use it daily whether it's by taking it or snorting it.
I get a lot of chest pains, and I'm pretty scared that it's related to the uppers.
I also smoke a lot of pot everyday.
I feel like I'm as addicted as you possibly can be to weed.
I feel shot by the afternoon because I've smoked so much already.
It makes me lazy, hungry, but of course happy.
I don't reallly see a problem with the weed, I would just like to cut back smoking quite as much.
Does anyone else smoke a lot or use speed? Have you been able to stop/if so how?

[J.O.M.]

What you are asking about is called Harm Reduction. The act of reducing usage of a substance to what one feels is a manageable amount or with the intent of ending use completely.

It's my belief that harm reduction is the most difficult of all methods to cease or reduce the consumption of substances.

The Adderall is an ampetamine, I assume you aren't 'eating' it but snorting or another means of consuming...so yes the chest pains you are experiencing most likely are related to the use of this substance.

You say by afternoon you are 'shot' from so much smoking when it comes to the weed, consider this then, if you believe you are addicted to both substances, how would cutting back on smoking be of benefit to you? Addiction itself indicates a loss of control over an 'event'.

Best to consider your reasons for using in the first place. Adderall to control weight, weed makes you lazy and hungry.

Try an exercise program, the adrenaline produced by vigorous exercise mimics the effects of the adderall, and usually exercise results in weight loss or management. The lazy and hungry should be taken care of by the same program and end result is a healthier, happier you.

[antonioxo]

hey Miami i myself use to smoke ALOT of pot and used speed a while back I've been clean for 6 months and for how i did it well i did the simplest thing exercise and kept my mind busy and to tired to think about anything that worked for me but for others i don't think it works out to well and i hope i have helped you out in the least bit or at least gave you hope for getting clean (if you ever plan to ) or even cutting back.

[miamixink3]

Well when I go horseback riding I don't smoke, or go to school, or whatever it's just when I'm bored so I guess I'm not really concentrated with that. I just worry about my heart, and I've talked to my friends mom, (she is an eating disorder specialist) and she's told me someone with an eating disorder who snorts drugs is at a higher risk for heart problems.
And when I exercise, I'd rather take adderall because that makes me burn cals faster, I'm just a mess, thank you though

[J.O.M.]

Hon, do you know what a BMI is? Look it up and then find a BMI calculator and see where you are on the scale. Hopefully that will make you feel better about your 'weight issues'. I do think you should look into an exercise program, adrenaline is a lot like amphetamine and it's certainly not as harmful, plus with exercise you get a bonus! Dopamine production! The body's feel good drug! Mainly you need to address the emotional issues that are the driving force behind the addiction and disorders. You say the only thing keeping you going is horse back riding, what about the other stuff that goes with it? The grooming, ground work, developing a relationship with the animal? You see, I understand about the horses, I was a trainer/trader at one time and will probably be one again in the future. There's more to horses than the ride, just like there's more to you than your addiction and disorders...what about the rest of you?

[miamixink3]

Yes, I know what bmi is and mine is 17.8 so I'm underweight, but I feel like I'm still overweight.
But I love horses, I think I might finally be getting my own in a couple months so that is awesome.
I love the riding, but the bond with a special horse is the best feeling in the world.
But there really isn't much more to me then my addictions & disorders, at least I don't think so.

[J.O.M.]

My you sure limit yourself! I wonder why?

We, all of us, are so much more than our parts. I was a horse trainer, I also bought and sold, then for a long time I was a truck driver, I've milked cows, herded cattle, but none of those things are me...who I am...they are what I did in life, so far.

I've also been the admin of a help site and message board with chat room for addicts and their families, I've been a student and a teacher, a mother and grandmother, a friend, a wife and lover...

Surely if I can pack all that into five foot nothing, there's a heck of a lot more to you than your love of horses and your addictions.

Ok, so let's talk horse.

How much do you know about the care of such a large magnificent animal?

And if you don't take care of yourself, how you going to care for it?

Just a thought...

Like I said, let's talk horse.

[miamixink3]

I've been riding for 6-7 years.
I've leased a few horses in the past, and I would keep it at the barn I ride at.
I know enough for small things like cuts, lameness, and care for basic things like that, like standing wraps, cold hosing, putting medicine on it.
I can tell when something isn't quite right.
If it were something I or my trainer couldn't take care of I would have the vet come out to look at it.
His grain hay water and turnout would get done by the people working in the barn.

[J.O.M.]

Hmm, pretty basic stuff...where I come from there's everything from cleaning hooves to trimming for shows, then comes the fun stuff, race training and conditioning!

I never really thought that someone who didn't get into the day to day care of a horse really understood the horse itself, and I promise you caring for a horse is a job that requires you to 'have your stuff together'.

There's a difference between an equestrian and a horsewoman or horseman...one rides and the other does everything, knows his or her horse inside out.

Geldings and stallions require some extra care that most people not only don't know about but wouldn't do even if they did...mares have their own issues that require some rather unpleasant actions of the part of the human caretaker.

Everything from ground work to riding requires strength, and strength requires that the horsewoman takes darned good care of her own health and well being.

Nice thing about horses though is that they don't care what you look like, they care what you feel like...the inside stuff...they care that when you come to them agitated that you end up with a calm mind in their presence, that you are confident in yourself and in them...that you aren't clouded in mind or heart...horses are pretty smart for animals, they understand more than one might think.

Do you know how many muscles you work in your own body simply sitting on a horse? Not even using proper posture?

[miamixink3]

Well I'm an equestrian, not a horsewoman.
I know the basics, everything else can be taken care of by people who are paid to do so.
And no I don't know how many muscles i use to ride.

[J.O.M.]

Perhaps you should consider expanding your horizons...when learning a skill or just about anything else one starts at the lowest level and works one's way up...gaining a larger understanding of not only that one thing, but about so many others...